News / Education
Resources, new Bibles promote stewardship, debt reduction
The Executive Committee worked with LifeWay’s Holman Bible Outreach International to develop a New Testament that includes 30 daily devotions written by Crown Financial Ministries to be used by churches with the "It’s a New Day" curriculum series.
The "It’s a New Day" curriculum includes a 10-week Bible study that leads individuals through the biblical principles of money management. Churches that implement a four-week emphasis on financial freedom may also use sermons provided on a DVD that teach foundational principles for handling money God’s way.
Phill Burgess, executive director of HBOI, said of LifeWay’s contribution, "This is more than simply a New Testament. This edition contains 30 daily devotions that were developed for every member of a church to use while going through a church-wide, four-week series about giving God complete lordship in our lives, even over our finances."
Ashley Clayton, associate vice president for stewardship with the Executive Committee, said, "We are a debt-driven culture. We define ourselves by the stuff we have. People in the pews are just as much in debt as people outside of the church. Even pastors and church leaders are not immune.
"We believe Southern Baptists want to give," said Clayton, "but they just can’t. Our goal is to bring liberty and freedom to believers. We may never know what an impact we can have on the Kingdom if believers are free to give. When individuals begin exercising good financial discipline personally, it will carry over to good financial discipline in the church," he added.
While financial freedom is a personal issue, Clayton believes much progress can be made when a church addresses stewardship corporately.
"Debt used to be a stigma," said Clayton. "Now we are a culture in trouble financially. Let’s own up to it and face it together."
Burgess believes the New Day New Testaments encourage community for those learning about biblical principles of money management.
"With the entire congregation going through the series together, a sense of ‘oneness’ within the church can be created, like we are ‘all in this together,’" said Burgess. "Using the New Day New Testaments during the series is like a tender walk through God’s Word that can lead an entire congregation into a life-changing commitment that will bring peace in their lives."
In support of the "It’s a New Day" initiative, LifeWay Christian Stores has "It’s a New Day" offering envelopes available through its offering envelope service, said Ben Stroup, coordinator of LifeWay Christian Stores’ offering envelope service.
With so many struggling financially outside of the church, Stroup said he believes the New Day program can also work as an outreach, as well. To support evangelistic efforts, LifeWay Christian Stores also developed New Day business cards that churches may personalize to distribute to those outside of the church who may struggle financially.
The New Day New Testaments are available by bulk order through LifeWay Christian Stores or through the HBOI Website at http://www.holmanbibleoutreach.org/.
For more information on New Day offering envelopes, business cards and notepads, visit www.lifewaystores.com/envelopeservice.
